Eight months of delays on busy Leeds road as ageing sewer is replaced

Congestion is expected for the next eight months on one of Leeds’ busiest roads while a 1.5 kilometre sewer pipe is replaced by Yorkshire Water.

The project to replace the large sewer pipe that runs under Abbey Road in Kirkstall starts next week and will cost £3 million to complete.

According to Yorkshire Water, the ageing sewer which runs along Abbey Road has burst nine times within the last five years and causes traffic disruption each time it does.

Barhale, the company working on behalf of the water firm, will start work in Abbey Road near to N J Metals and work towards Kirkstall Abbey, building 1.5 kilometres of new sewer in 60 metre sections.

As part of a traffic management plan agreed with Leeds City Council, the bus lane will be closed from next week for the duration of the project so the sewer can be laid.

Two-way traffic lights will be used when the team are working in Abbey Road, between the Vesper Gate public house and the Vesper Lane junction, for the safety of the workers and members of the public. The lights will be manned at peak times.

Yorkshire Water says English Heritage has been consulted about the work taking place in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey and the team will have an archaeologist onsite when working there. Events at the abbey will not be affected.

Andrew McKinley, Yorkshire Water Project Manager said, “We do appreciate the work will have an impact on the local community and we’ll do our best to minimise any disruption. There may be times when traffic is affected and we apologise for any delays.

“The project will take us about eight months to complete but this very much depends on the ground and weather conditions we encounter.

The new sewer will reduce the risk of future pollution incidents and the traffic disruption that happens as a result of this main bursting.”

Neither Yorkshire Water or Barhale employees will need access to residents’ properties and residents are being asked to be on their guard against bogus callers while crews are working in the area.

Employees of both companies carry identity cards which can be checked by telephoning 0800 1 38 78 78 and they won’t mind waiting while their details are verified.